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MANUAL OF FORMS-H 

FOR 

BAPTISM, ADMISSION TO THE COMMUNION, 
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUP- 
PER, MARRIAGE AND FUNERALS. 

CONFORMED TO THE 



BY / 
ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER HODGE, D.D. 




PHILADELPHIA : 
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 
1334 CHESTNUT STREET. 




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by 

THE TRUSTEES OF THE 

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



Westcott & Thomson, 

Stereotypers and Electrotypers, PhUa. 



PREFACE. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the founders of all the sev- 
eral national branches of the Keformed Church prepared and 
used written formularies of public worship (as, e. g.> Calvin, 
Knox, the authors of the Dutch and the German Reformed 
Liturgies, and in the next century Richard Baxter), the ge- 
nius of Scottish and American Presbyterianism has discard- 
ed them as uncongenial, and the matured judgment of our 
Church has pronounced them to be inexpedient. The action 
of our recent General Assemblies from 1873 to 1875 proves 
that the mind of the Church is decidedly averse to the rec- 
ommendation by authority of even the simplest forms for 
special services. With this jealous care for the freedom 
and spirituality of the Church the compiler of this little 
manual is in perfect sympathy. 

Nevertheless, accurate verbal preparation is felt by all to be 
necessary for the edifying performance of certain special ser- 
vices, as, for instance, the administration of Baptism and the 
Lord's Supper, the admission of the baptized to full commu- 
nion, and the celebration of Marriage. Any approximation to 
a uniformity of method in these particulars which can be se- 
cured without the sacrifice of freedom and adaptability to 
varying circumstances will be generally welcomed.' 34 ' 

The very spirit of liberty, which opposes the authoritative 
recommendation of such formulas by the General Assembly, 
will approve as legitimate such offerings to the brethren as 
the present, made by private persons, and thoroughly conform- 

* See report of committee n to consider and report, if necessary, a for- 
mula for recognition of members admitted to church privileges," to Gen- 
eral Assembly of 1875. 

3 



4 



PREFACE. 



ed to the doctrinal principles of the " Confession of Faith " and 
to the regulative injunctions of the " Directory for Worship." 

The present compiler, having drawn his materials from 
various sources, offers this little manual to his brethren as a 
statement of the true principles that should determine the form 
as well as the matter of these services, and as a suggestive ex- 
ample of appropriate forms, as well as a handbook convenient 
for actual use. 

He wishes emphatically to acknowledge the valuable assist- 
ance and encouragement rendered him in this compilation by 
the Rev. John C. Backus, D. D., of Baltimore, and the Rev. 
Arthur T. Pierson, D. D., of Detroit. To the latter especially 
he is indebted for criticisms and suggestions, for some of the 
very best material incorporated in these formularies, and for 
the entire " Order," marked IV., for the admission of members 
to full communion, as alternative to " Orders " II. and III., for 
the separate admission of baptized members to full communion 
and for the baptism of adults. 

Personally, he believes that as it is essential to maintain the 
church membership from the beginning of those who are bap- 
tized in infancy, so it is important to make visible the fact that 
the admission to full communion of baptized members of the 
Church is an ordinance different in meaning and effect from 
the baptism of adults and their first admission from the world 
into a covenanted relation to God. As, however, many of his 
brethren think differently, provision is made for the practical 
exercise of both methods by " Orders " II. and III. providing 
for the separate, and " Order " IV. providing, as an alternative, 
for the simultaneous, admission of both classes of candidates 
to full communion. 

It will be noted by those who use this Manual that the 
formulas intended for public use are printed in large type, 
and generally upon the right-hand pages ; whilst the references 
to the Scriptures and the Standards of the Presbyterian Church 
are given in small type, upon the left-hand pages. 

Allegheny City, Pa., 
Feb. 27, 1877. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



I. Order for the Baptism of Infants 7 

II. Order for the Admission of those who were 

Baptized in Infancy to Full Communion.... 15 

III. Order for the Baptism of Adults and their 

Admission to Full Communion 19 

IV. Order (Alternative to Orders II. and III.) 

for the Admission of Both Classes to Full 
Communion at the same time 25 

V. Order for the Administration of the Lord's 
Supper 31 

VI. Order for the Solemnization of Marriage.. 43 

VII. Selections of Scriptures to be read at Fune- 
rals, adapted to Various Occasions 50 

5 



STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. 



If "The infants of one or both believing parents are to 
be baptized." Confession of Faith, ch. xxviii.. § 4. 

If It is obvious that the infants of such parents only as 
make a credible profession of being true believers should 
be baptized, since the " Directory for Worship " demands 
that the parent enter before God and the Church into 
"an express engagement" (General Assembly of 1794, 
Moore's Digest, p. 666) "that he prays with and for the 
child ; that he sets an example of piety and godliness 
before it," etc. If other than presumptively believing — 
i. e., professing — parents be encouraged to enter this en- 
gagement, the covenant is made void and " the seal set 
to a blank." General Synod 1735, Moore's Digest, p. 665. 

1f When children are removed from the custody of their 
parents, by death or otherwise, the guardian or master 
w T ho has undertaken to rear them may present them 
for baptism, provided he possess the qualification requi- 
site for having his own children baptized, and is willing 
to assume the obligation. General Assembly 1786. 

6 



ORDER 

FOR THE 

BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 



Our heavenly Father, from the first rev- 
elation of his purpose of grace to sinful men 
made to our first mother in the garden, has 
always embraced the family, and not the in- 
_ dividual alone, as the unit with which his 
covenant is made and by the multiplication 
of which his kingdom is composed. All his 
covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot 
and David include the children with their 
parents. In the " gospel " that was preached 
to Abraham four hundred and thirty years 
before the law the Lord promised, " I will 
establish my covenant between me and thee, 
and thy seed after thee, in their generations, 
for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto 
thee and to thy seed after thee." " And in 
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be 
blessed." Gen. xvii. 7 ; xxii. 18. 

This fundamental law of the kingdom is 
declared by the apostle Peter, in his great 

7 



8 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



T " Although it is proper that baptism be administered 
in the presence of the congregation, yet there may be 
cases when it will be expedient to administer this ordi- 
nance in private houses ; of which the minister is to be 
the judge." Directory for Worship, ch. 7, § 5. 

1f " The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment 
of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, 
by the right use of this sacrament the grace promised is 
not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by 
the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as 
that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of 
God's own will, in his appointed time." Confession of 
Faith, ch. 28, | 6. 

If " Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this 
ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so insepa- 
rably annexed unto it as that none can be regenerated 
or saved without it ; or that all that are baptized are un- 
doubtedly regenerated." Confession of Faith, ch. 28, \ 5. 

\ " It is the deliberate and unanimous opinion of the 
Assembly that those who renounce the fundamental 
doctrines of the Trinity, and deny that Jesus Christ is 
the same in substance, equal in power and glory with 
the Father, cannot be recognized as ministers of the 
gospel, and that their ministrations (baptism, etc.) are 
wholly invalid." General Assembly 1814, Moore's Digest, 
p. 660. 



BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 



9 



sermons on the day of Pentecost and imme- 
diately after, to remain in full force under 
the gospel dispensation : " Ye are the chil- 
dren of the prophets and of the covenant 
which God made with our fathers, saying 
unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the 
kindreds of the earth be blessed." Acts iii. 
25. " Repent and be baptized, every one of 
you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the re- 
mission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift 
of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto 
you and to your children, and to all that are 
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God 
shall call." Acts ii. 38, 39. 

Hear also what the Lord Jesus says [begin- 
ning at the fourteenth verse of the tenth chap- 
ter of the Gospel according to Mark] of the 
place which he has assigned to young children 
in his kingdom : 

" Suffer the little children to come unto 
me, and forbid them not ; for of such is the 
kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, 
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of 
God as a little child, he shall not enter there- 
in. And he took them up in his arms, put his 
hands upon them, and blessed them." 

And hear also how the apostles of our 



10 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



Lord, in every recorded case, baptized the 
households of those who professed faith in 
Christ (Acts xvi. 29-33) : " The jailer called 
for a light and sprang in, and came trembling 
and fell down before Paul and Silas, and said, 
Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? And 
they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And 
they spake unto him the word of the Lord, 
and to all that were in his house, and the 
same hour of the night was baptized he and 
all his straightway." And we are taught 
that they baptized in like manner the house- 
holds of Stephanas, of Lydia, of Crispus and 
of Cornelius. 

Thus we see that our most merciful Re- 
deemer, adapting the provisions of his grace 
to the constitution of our nature, has ordained 
that his visible Church shall be built up, not 
of isolated individuals, but of families. Every 
child of believing parents is by his birth a 
citizen of God's kingdom and an heir of its 
privileges, subject to the condition of subse- 
quent personal faith. 

But the basis of church membership is the 
covenant of grace which Christ condescends 
to make with his people, of which covenant 



BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 



11 



faith is the essential condition and baptism 
the visible sign ; and as infants cannot in 
their own persons exercise faith, their mem- 
bership must in the first instance rest upon 
the faith of their parents until they come to 
an age intelligently and voluntarily to em- 
brace and profess Christ themselves. 

Therefore, do you, the parents of this child, 
receive the blessed Redeemer for yourself and 
for your child, and do you accept anew the 
covenant of grace as offered to you and as 
embracing him ? 

Do you unreservedly consecrate your child 
to the Lord's service, and do you in humble 
reliance upon the grace of Christ, which help- 
eth all our infirmities, promise to set your 
child a holy example ; to give him the nur- 
ture pertaining to a lamb of the flock ; to 
pray with him and for him ; to use in his 
behalf all scriptural means, and invoke 
upon him all spiritual blessings ; and to teach 
him to observe all things whatsoever the 
Lord hath commanded you ? 

[Here the parents shall bow assent.] 

The Minister shall then say : May the 
blessing of the God of the covenant, the 
God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, 



12 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



V i 


— i L 






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— — u 








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1 

J, 


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i — p- 





























Before Administration. 

1 And Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them 

not, to | come " unto | me; || For of such | is the | 
kingdom " of | heaven. 

2 He shall feed | his flock " like a | shepherd: || He 

shall gather the lambs with his arm, and [carry 
them | in his | bosom. 

3 I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing 

up- | on thine | offspring; || And they shall spring 
up as among the grass, as | willows " by the | 
water- | courses. 

After Administration. 

1 Then will I sprinkle clean | water " up- | on you, || 

And | ye shall | be — | clean : 

2 A new heart also | will I | give you, || And a new 

spirit | will I | put with- | in you, 

3 And I will take away the stony heart j out of " your | 

flesh, || And I will | give " you a | heart of | flesh. 
Glory be to the Father, and | to the | Son : || And | to 

the | Holy | Ghost; 
As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever | shall 

be, || World | without | end. A- | men. 



BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 



13 



your fathers' God, whom we adore as 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, be with you 
and your seed for ever. Amen. 

[If desired, the choir may chant some words of Scrip- 
ture, such as Ps. ciii. 17, 18 ; Mark x. 14 ; Acts ii. 39.] 

The parent now handing the name of the 
child in writing to the minister, the latter 
shall say : 

N, I baptize thee in the name of the 
Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
Amen. 

[The choir concluding their chant, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 
26 ; Isa. xliv. 3, 4, and Gloria Patri.] 

Then the minister shall conclude with an 
appropriate prayer. 



14 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



If " Children born within the pale of the visible Church, 
and dedicated to God in baptism, are under the inspection 
and government of the Church ; and are to be taught to 
read and repeat the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and 
the Lord's Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to 
abhor sin, to fear God, and to obey the Lord Jesus 
Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, if 
they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and 
to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body, 
they ought to be informed it is their duty and privilege 
to come to the Lord's Supper.' 1 Directory for Worship, 
ch. 9, ? 1. 



T " The years of discretion in young Christians cannot 
be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of 
the eldership. The officers of the Church are the judges 
of the qualifications of those to be admitted to sealing 
ordinances, and of the time when it is proper to admit 
young Christians to them, who shall be examined as to 
their knowledge and piety." Directory for Worship, 
ch. 9, & 2, 3. 



ORDER 



FOR THE 

ADMISSION OF THOSE WHO WEKE BAPTIZED IN 
INFANCY TO FULL OR CONFIRMED MEMBER- 
SHIP IN THE CHURCH AS COMMUNICANTS. 



Grace be to you and peace from God our 
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Beloved child of the Church, do you rec- 
ognize as binding on yourself that covenant 
which God formed with your parents, includ- 
ing you as their seed, the seal of which, 
Christian baptism, they caused to be applied 
to you in your infancy ? 

Candidate : I do. 

Do you here, in the presence of God and 
of this congregation, adopt and profess that 
Christian faith wherein you were baptized? 
Do you believe in God the Father almighty, 
Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus 
Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was con- 
ceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Vir- 
gin Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was 



16 



MANUAL OF FOKMS. 



crucified, dead and buried ; who the third 
day rose again from the dead ; ascended into 
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God 
the Father almighty, from whence he shall 
come to judge the quick and the dead ? Do 
you believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy 
Catholic Church ; the communion of saints ; 
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of 
the body and the life everlasting ? 
Candidate : I do. 

Do you take — the Father to be your 
father (1 Thess. i. 9) ? 

— the Son to be your Saviour (Acts 
v. 31) ? 

And — the Holy Ghost to be your Sanc- 
tifier (1 Pet. i. 2) ? 

Do you take — the word of God to be 
your rule (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17) ? 

And — the people of God to be your people 
(Euth i. 16, 17) ? 

Do you dedicate yourself, your soul and 
body, time, talents and possessions, to the 
Lord (Eom. xiv. 7, 8), freely (Ps. ex. 3), de- 
liberately (Josh. xxiv. 15), sincerely (2 Cor. 
i. 12), and for ever (Rom. viii. 35-39) ? 

Candidate : By the help of God, I do. 

Do you promise subjection in the Lord to 



ORDER FOR CHURCH ADMISSION. 17 

the authorities of this Church, and to walk 
in brotherly love with the brethren ? 
Candidate : I do. 

The Minister shall then say : In the name 
of the Lord Jesus Christ I pronounce you to 
be a member of the visible Church in full 
communion, and I affectionately commend 
you to the confidence, love and care of the 
brethren. And may the grace of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the 
communion of the Holy Ghost, rest upon you 
for ever. Amen. 



2 



18 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



1f " Baptism is not to be administered to any that are 
out of the visible Church, and so strangers from the 
covenant of promise till they profess faith in Christ and 
obedience to him." Larger Catechism, Q. 166. 



1f "When unbaptized persons apply for admission to 
the visible Church, they shall, in ordinary cases, after 
giving satisfaction with respect to their knowledge and 
piety, make a public profession of their faith in the 
presence of the congregation, and thereupon be bap- 
tized." Directory for Worship, ch. 9, \ 4. 



ORDER 

FOR THE 

BAPTISM OF ADULTS 

AND THEIR ADMISSION TO 

FULL COMMUNION. 



Hear what the Lord Jesus said to Nico- 
demus, as recorded in the third verse of the 
third chapter of the Gospel according to St. 
John : 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a 
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom 
of God. Nicodemus saith to him, How can 
a man be born when he is old? Can he 
enter a second time into his mother's womb 
and be born ? Jesus answered, Verily, ver- 
ily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born 
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter 
into the kingdom of God. That which is 
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is 
born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that 
I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

Hear also the words of the Lord recorded 

19 



20 



MANUAL OF FORMS, 



in the thirty-second verse of the tenth chap- 
ter of the Gospel according to Matthew : 

Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me be- 
fore men, him will I confess also before my 
Father which is in heaven. But whosoever 
shall deny me before men, him will I also 
deny before my Father which is in heaven. 

As the apostle Paul also saith in the tenth 
verse of the tenth chapter of his Epistle to 
the Romans, With the heart man believeth 
unto righteousness; and with the mouth con- 
fession is made unto salvation. 

Do you, therefore, with your heart sincere- 
ly receive and trust in the righteousness of 
Christ alone for salvation, and with your 
mouth do you confess him as your Saviour 
and your Lord for ever ? 

Answer: I do. 

Do you unfeignedly repent of all your sins, 
especially of your past rejection of your Sa- 
viour ? Do you renounce the world, the flesh 
and the devil, and all their evil works and 
lusts, so that you will no longer follow or be 
led by them ? 

Answer : I do. 

Do you heartily believe and profess the 
Christian faith? Do you believe in God 



BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 



21 



the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and 
earth ; and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our 
Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
born of the Virgin Mary ; suffered under Pon- 
tius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried ; 
who the third day- rose again from the dead ; 
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right 
hand of God the Father almighty, from whence 
he shall come to judge the quick and the dead ? 
Do you believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy 
Catholic Church ; the communion of saints ; 
the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of 
the body ; and the life everlasting ? 
Answer : I do. 

Do you take God the Father to be your 
father ? 

— the Son to be your Saviour ? 

— the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier ? 

— the word of God to be your rule ? 

— the people of God to be your people ? 
Do you also dedicate yourself, your soul 

and body, your time, talents and possessions, 
to the Lord, freely, deliberately, sincerely 
and for ever ? 

Answer : By the help of God, I do. 

Do you promise subjection in the Lord to 
the constituted authorities of this church, 



22 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



Psalm ciii. 17, 18. 
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness 
unto children's children ; 

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that re- 
member his commandments to do them. 



Ezekiel xxxvi. 25, 26. 
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye 
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all 
your idols, will I cleanse you. 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will 
I put within you : and I will take away the stony heart 
out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 



Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy 
Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall 
be, world without end. Amen. 



BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 



23 



and to walk in brotherly love with the 
brethren ? 

Answer: I do. 

[If desired, the choir may chant some passage of 
Scripture, as Ps. ciii. 17, 18.] 

The candidate kneeling, the minister shall 
say : 

N, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
Amen. 

[Choir chanting Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, and Gloria Patri.] 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I 
pronounce you to be a member of the visible 
Church in full communion, and I affection- 
ately commend you to the confidence, love 
and care of the brethren. And may the 
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
of God, and the communion of the Holy 
Ghost, rest upon you for ever. Amen. 



24 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



[Preliminary Note. — In order to membership in this 
church, nothing is ordinarily required but satisfactory 
evidence of the acceptance of gospel truth and of the 
experience of God's grace, or proper letters of dismis- 
sion from other evangelical churches. 

Those who join a Presbyterian church should, how- 
ever, be in sympathy with its doctrine and order, full 
statements of which are to be found in the "West- 
minster Confession of Faith," "Larger and Shorter 
Catechisms" and "Form of Government." These ex- 
press our views of the truth as taught in the word of 
God, the only authoritative exposition of His will and 
law.J 



A FORMULA 



FOB THE 

RECEPTION OF MEMBERS. 

Prepared by the Eev. A. T. Pierson, D. D. 



Beloved in the Loed: 
The Church of God is not of man's ap- 
pointment. He who saw that it was "not 
good that the man should be alone " formed 
believers into the Household of Faith, with 
ordinances and sacraments. Our Lord bade 
his disciples " confess " him " before men," 
and the Holy Ghost, through the apostle 
Paul, declares that "if thou shalt confess 
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt 
believe in thine heart that God hath raised 
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 
God has " given a banner to them that fear 
Him, that it may be displayed because of 
the truth." 

You will now listen to a brief summary 
of our holy faith : 

We believe in one God, Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost, Creator and Ruler of all, in- 

25 



26 



MANUAL OF FOEMS. 



finitely perfect and worthy of love, worship 
and obedience. 

We believe in one Saviour, Jesus the 
Christ, God manifest in the flesh, who in his 
life fulfilled the law and by his death atoned 
for sin. 

We believe in one Holy Spirit, who con- 
vinces of sin, renews the heart and trans- 
forms the life. 

We believe in one Rule of doctrine and 
duty, the Holy Scriptures, the divinely in- 
spired and infallible guide. 

We believe in one condition of salvation, 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, manifest in 
godly sorrow for sin and in a godly life. 

We believe in one Church of God, embra- 
cing all who are united to Christ by saving 
faith and divine grace. 

We believe in one Day of Judgment for all 
mankind, with its eternal awards, according 
to the deeds done in the body. 

Confessing this as your faith, you are now 
to enter into formal covenant with God and 
this church. 

Address to those Baptized in Infancy: 
You, having been baptized in infancy, are 



RECEPTION OF MEMBERS. 27 



now to come into full communion with the 
Church whose external privileges you have 
already enjoyed. By your voluntary choice 
of Christ, and by your saving faith in Him, 
you are now, we trust, no longer heirs merely 
of covenant privileges, but of salvation also. 
The vows and obligations, assumed in your 
behalf in baptism, you do now ratify and 
confirm. With your own hand you sub- 
scribe unto the Lord, set your seal to the 
covenant with God, and declare, " I am the 
Lord's." 

Address to those not hitherto Baptized : 

You, who have not hitherto enjoyed even 
this outward membership in the Church of 
God, now formally separate yourselves from 
the world, that you may take your place as 
"fellow-citizens with the saints and of the 
household of God." Let your baptism this 
day be indeed the " putting away of the filth 
of the flesh " and the " putting on " of " the 
Lord Jesus Christ." 

[Here let baptism be administered.] 

And now, beloved, renouncing the world, 
the flesh and the devil, you take God the 
Father to be your God, Jesus Christ to be 



28 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



your Saviour, and the Holy Spirit to be 
your Sanctifier ; 

You take the word of God as your rule of 
faith and practice, and the people of God to 
be your people ; 

And you give yourself, soul and body, 
time and talents, powers and possessions, to 
the service of the Lord ; 

And you do this, intelligently, deliberate- 
ly, sincerely, unreservedly, freely and for 
ever. 

Addeess to those Eeceiyed by Letter 

[Who stand up at their respective seats] : 

Having already confessed Christ, you to- 
day renew your covenant with God and 
transfer your relations to this church. May 
God give you grace to honor Him, and to 
promote the spread of the gospel, the peace 
of the church and the salvation of souls. 

[Church members here rise.] 

We, the officers and members of this 
church, do now affectionately welcome you 
all to membership and fellowship in this 
Christian household. We humbly pray for 
divine help, that we may together seek the 
present and eternal welfare of our fellow- 



RECEPTION OF MEMBERS. 29 



disciples and " do good unto all men, espe- 
cially unto them who are of the household 
of faith." 

And now, may "the God of peace, that 
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, make 
you perfect in every good work to do his will, 
working in you that which is well-pleasing 
in his sight, through Jesus. Christ, to whom 
be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 



30 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



1f " As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally 
or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and 
wine in the Lord's Supper ; and yet are spiritually pres- 
ent to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really 
than the elements themselves are to their outward 
senses ; so they that worthily communicate in the sac- 
rament of the Lord's Supper, do therein feed upon the 
body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal or carnal, 
but in a spiritual manner ; yet truly and really, while 
by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ 
crucified, and all the benefits of his death." Larger Cate- 
chism, Q. 170. 



If " One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his 
due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet 
assured thereof; and in God's account hath it, if he be 
duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, 
and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ and to de- 
part from all iniquity." Larger Catechism, Q. 172. 



ORDER 

FOE, THE 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



Hear, the words of the institution of this 
Holy Supper of our Lord, as given by reve- 
lation to his apostle Paul, and recorded in 
the eleventh chapter of the First Epistle to 
the Corinthians : 

For I have received of the Lord that 
which also I delivered unto you, That the 
Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was 
betrayed, took bread : and when he had given 
thanks he brake it and said, Take, eat, this 
is my body which is broken for you ; this do 
in remembrance of me. After the same 
manner also, he took the cup when he had 
supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood ; this do ye, as oft as ye 
drink it, in remembrance of me. For as 
often as ye eat this bread and drink this 
cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 

31 



32 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



If " Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, 
notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire 
to come to the Lord's Supper, may and ought to be kept 
from that sacrament by the power which Christ hath 
left in his Church, until they receive instruction, and 
manifest their reformation," Larger Catechism, Q. 173. 



11" It is especially to be remembered that since the 
" sacraments are seals of the covenant of grace," formed 
between Christ and his people, and since in the Lord's 
Supper "the worthy receivers really and truly receive 
and apply unto themselves Christ and him crucified," 
each believer being made " a priest unto God " (1 Pet. 
ii. 5 and Rev. i. 6), "having liberty to enter into the 
holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. x. 19), it neces- 
sarily follows that in this sacrament the communicants are 
to act immediately and personally in their covenanting ivith 
the Lord. The minister, therefore, ought not to throw 
them into a passive attitude as the recipients of his 
instructions or exhortations. All such didactic and 
hortatory exercises being assigned to the preparatory 
services and to the sermon before communion, the 
minister should abstain from addressing and confine 
himself to leading the communicants in the act of com- 
munion by means of acts of direct worship, such as 
suitable prayers and hymns. And all the prayers and 
hymns associated with this holy ordinance should be 



ADMINISTEATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 33 

It is my solemn duty to warn the ignorant 
and the scandalous, and those that are in- 
dulging in known sin, not to approach this 
sacred feast lest they eat and drink judgment 
to themselves. Ye cannot drink of the cup 
of the Lord, and the cup of devils : ye can- 
not be partakers of the Lord's table, and of 
the table of devils. 1 Cor. x. 21. 

But it is also my high privilege to invite, 
in the name of the Lord Jesus, all those pro- 
fessors who, sensible of their sinfulness and 
helplessness, trust alone to the perfect atone- 
ment and reconciliation of their Lord, and 
whose humble hope and purpose it is, through 
grace, to lead, henceforth, holy and godly 
lives. And, all those who, professing alle- 
giance to our common Redeemer, are mem- 
bers in good standing in sister evangelical 
churches, are cordially welcomed by us to a 
place at our Master's table. For we being 
many are one bread and one body : for we 
are all partakers of that one bread. 1 Cor. 
x. 17. 

[The congregation shall then sing an appropriate sacra- 
mental hymn, such as "O bread to pilgrims given ;" or 
" My God, and is thy table spread or " According to 
thy gracious word."] 

[Then the minister shall offer a solemn prayer of—Invo- 
3 



34 MANUAL OF FORMS. 

specifically appropriate to it, and not of a mere general 
religions character. 



H " The standards of the Presbyterian Church are 
clear in their teaching, that the Lord's Supper is not to 
be received by any one alone, yet in cases of protract- 
ed sickness or approaching death, when the desire is 
strongly urged by a member of the Church (whether 
previously so, or by recent confession and baptism) to 
enjoy the administration of the Lord's Supper, a pastor, 
with one or more of his session and such communicants 
as may appropriately be admitted, may proceed to ad- 
minister this sacrament — a minute of every such act to 
be entered on the records of session. " General Assem- 
bly, 0. S. 1863, Moore's Digest, p. 668. 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 35 

cation, Consecration, Confession and Supplication for the in- 
dwelling and communion of the Father and the Son through 
the Spirit.] 

The Distribution of the Bread : 

[The minister should take the bread and break it in 
view of the people, saying :] 

Our blessed Lord, the same night in which 
he was betrayed, having taken bread and 
blessed it, brake it and gave to his disciples 
(as I do, ministering in his name), saying: 
Take, eat, this is my body which is broken 
for you ; this do in remembrance of me. 

[If for any reason it be thought inexpedient to leave the 
communicants to their own silent meditations through the 
whole time occupied by the distribution of the elements, the 
minister shoidd read slowly such of our Lord's own words as 
the following:] 

Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt, 
xi. 28. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave 
his only-begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lie veth on him, should not perish, but have 
everlasting life. John iii. 16. 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to 
save that which was lost. Luke xix. 10. 

Look unto me and be ye saved, all ye ends 
of the earth. Isa. xlv. 22. 



36 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



All that the Father giveth me shall come 
to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in 
no wise cast out. John vi. 37. 

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen 
you and ordained you, that ye should go 
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit 
should remain : that whatsoever ye shall ask 
of the Father in my name, he may give it 
you. John xv. 16. 

Therefore, I say unto you, What things so- 
ever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye 
receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 
xi. 24. 

According to your faith be it unto you. 
Matt. ix. 29. 

Write : Blessed are they which are called 
unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Rev. 
xix. 9. 

For the Bread of God is he which cometh 
down from heaven and giveth life unto the 
world. ... I am that Bread of life. He that 
cometh to me shall never hunger, and he 
that believeth on me shall never thirst. 
John vi. 33-35. 

Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my 
blood hath eternal life. John vi. 54. 

It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 37 

profiteth nothing: the words that I speak 
unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 
John vi. 63. 

He that hath an ear let him hear what 
the Spirit saith unto the churches : To him 
that overcometh will I give to eat of the 
hidden manna. Rev. ii. 17. 

He that overcometh, the same shall be 
clothed in white raiment; and I will not 
blot out his name out of the book of life; 
but I will confess his name before my 
Father, and before his angels. Rev. iii. 5. 

The Distribution of the Wine: 

The minister shall say : 

After the same manner our Saviour also 
took the cup, and having given thanks, gave 
it to his disciples (as I do in his name), say- 
ing : Drink ye all of it : for this is my blood 
of the new testament, which is shed for many, 
for the remission of sins. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. 
For, as the apostle Paul adds : As often as ye 
eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show 
the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. xi. 26. 

[If deemed desirable the minister during the distribution of 
the cup may slowly read the Lord's words as follows :] 

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to 



38 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



Simon Peter : Simon, son of Jonas, lovest 
thou me more than these? And he said 
unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, 
thou knowest that I love thee. John xxi. 
15-17. 

Henceforth I call you not servants; for 
the servant knoweth not what his lord 
doeth ; but I have called you friends ; for all 
things that I have heard of my Father I 
have made known unto you. John xv. 15. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that 
a man lay down his life for his friends. 
John xv. 13. 

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 
Luke xii. 32. 

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if 
any man hear my voice and open the door, 
I will come in to him, and will sup with 
him, and he with me. To him that over- 
cometh will I grant to sit with me in my 
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set 
down with my Father in his throne. He that 
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit 
saith unto the churches. Rev. iii. 20-22. 

I am the Vine, ye are the branches : he 
that abideth in me and I in him, the same 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 39 

bringeth forth much fruit; for without me, 
ye can do nothing. John xv. 5. 

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it 
not the communion of the blood of Christ ? 
The bread which we break, is it not the com- 
munion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 
x. 16. 

Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, 
and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 
John vi. 53. 

I will not drink henceforth of this fruit 
of the vine, until that day when I drink it 
new with you in my Father's kingdom. 
Matt. xxvi. 29. 

Father, I will that they also whom thou 
hast given me, be with me where I am, that 
they may behold my glory w T hich thou hast 
given me ; for thou lovedst me before the 
foundation of the world. John xvii. 24. 

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst 
any more, neither shall the sun light on 
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, w r hich 
is in the midst of the throne, shall feed 
them, and shall lead them unto living foun- 
tains of waters ; and God shall wipe away all 
tears from their eyes. Rev. vii. 16, 17. 

He which testifieth these things saith, 



40 



MANUAL OF FOKMS. 



Surely, I come quickly; Amen: Even so, 
come, Lord Jesus. Rev. xxii. 20. 

[Then the minister shall offer a solemn prayer : Of Thanks- 
giving, of Consecration, of Intercession for absent Communis 
cants, for Baptized Children and for the Church Universal.} 

[Then the congregation shall sing an appropriate hymn, 
such as " All hail the power of Jesus' name."] 

Benediction. 



42 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



1f Marriage is a civil contract, inasmuch as the state, 
for the welfare of human society, must recognize and 
enforce it in its civil relations and consequents. 



If Yet it is not a mere civil contract, but also a religious 
contract under a divine constitution. Because (1) it is 
founded upon the nature of man as constituted by God. 
(2) It was instituted by God in Paradise before the exist- 
ence of civil society, and consequently civil society for 
ever presupposes marriage, and marriage therefore can- 
not essentially presuppose civil society. (3) In his in- 
spired word God has defined the nature, conditions and 
mutual duties of marriage, and the conditions of its law- 
ful dissolution. (4) The vows of mutual fidelity are 
made by the parties to God as well as to each other. 
(5) The grace which alone can enable the parties to 
realize marriage in its highest sense is from God only. 



If Hence it follows: (1) That Christians are bound to 
observe in their marriages the laws of the common- 
wealth, as far as these are consistent with the revealed 
laws of God. (2) That the state has no right to ignore 



ORDER 

FOR THE 

SOLEMNIZATION OF MAKRIAGE. 



Dearly beloved, we are assembled here 
in the sight of God and these witnesses, to 
join this man and this woman in the bonds 
of matrimony ; which is an honorable estate, 
instituted by God in the time of man's inno- 
cency, confirmed by the teaching and sanc- 
tioned by the presence of our blessed Lord, 
and compared by Saint Paul to the mystical 
union between Christ and his Church. 

Into this holy estate these two persons 
have come to be joined. 

If any man can show just cause why they 
may not lawfully be joined together, let him 
speak now, or else hereafter for ever hold 
his peace. 

It will be your duty, M, to be to N a 
loving, tender, faithful husband, to support, 
guide and cherish her, in prosperity and in 
adversity, and, forsaking all others, to cleave 

43 



44 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



or to violate the divine law in its legal provisions for mar- 
riage or divorce, and that when it does so, Christians 
are bound to obey God, even if that involve disobedience 
to man. (3) Christians ought to marry in the Lord, 
and their marriages should be solemnized by a lawful 
minister, who alone is competent to interpret and en- 
force the divine law and invoke upon their union the 
divine blessing. See Directory for Worship, ch. 11, \ 2, 



If " While our form of government does not recognize 
licentiates as ministers of the gospel, yet this Assembly 
(1844) does not consider them as violating any rules of 
the Church by solemnizing marriage in those States where 
the civil laws expressly authorize them to do it." Moore's 
Digest, p. 402. 



If " It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are 
able with judgment to give their consent, yet it is the 
duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And, 
therefore, such as profess the true Eeformed religion 
should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idol- 
aters; neither should such as are godly be unequally 



SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 45 

to her only with a love that fails not, until 
death shall part you. 

It will be your duty, N, to be to M a lov- 
ing, tender, faithful and obedient wife, to 
comfort, counsel and cherish him, in prosper- 
ity and in adversity, and, forsaking all others, 
to cleave to him alone with a love that fails 
not, until death shall part you. 

If you would assume these relations and 
duties, as thus defined after the word of God, 
join your hands and together assent to the 
marriage covenant. 

Do you, M, in the presence of God and 
these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith 
to N, that you will live with her after God's 
ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony, 
and that through his grace, you will be to 
her a faithful and loving husband as long as 
you both shall live ? 

Do you, N, in the presence of God and 
these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith 
to M, that you will live with him after God's 
ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony, 
and that, through grace, you will be to him a 
faithful and loving wife as long as you both 
shall live ? 

[In token of these your mutual engage- 



46 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



yoked by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked 
in their life, or maintain damnable heresies." Confes- 
sion of Faith, ch. 24, § 3. 



H" "-The purpose of marriage ought to be sufficiently 
published a proper time before the solemnization of it. 
It is enjoined on all ministers to be careful that, in this 
matter, they transgress neither the laws of God nor the 
laws of the community; and that they may not destroy 
the peace and comfort of families, they must be prop- 
erly certified with respect to the parties applying to 
them, that no just objection lie against their marriage." 
Directory of Worship, ch. 11, § 6. 



\i "The Synod do recommend it to all their members 
to use the greatest caution that they do not countenance 
any clandestine marriages, and especially that they do 
not marry any that they have reason to suspect to go 
contrary to the minds of their parents and guardians in 
seeking it." Original Synod, 1735, Moore's Digest, p. 691. 



SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 47 

merits, you, M, do bestow, and you, N, do 
receive, this bridal ring. 

Let it continue to you both a symbol of 
the value, the purity and constancy of true 
wedded love, and a seal of those vows to 
which you have now set your hands.] 

Address : 

You are both to remember that the happi- 
ness of your union is to be found in mutual 
kindness, confidence, affection and fidelity. 
I, therefore, a minister of the blessed gospel, 
charge and entreat you to seek the help of 
God in all your duties ; that so his grace 
may make your union full of comfort in this 
life, and a furtherance of your everlasting 
salvation, to the glory of his most holy name. 
Amen. 

Let us pray : 

O God, by whom marriage was ordained : 
O Christ, Son of God, by whose presence 
this service was adorned and rendered for 
ever sacred : O Holy Ghost, who art the 
only source of true blessedness, — look down 
upon these thy servants, and unite their 
hearts and lives in all the grace and true 
affection of a happy marriage. May their 



48 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



1T " Let the minister keep a proper register for the 
names of all persons whom he marries, and of the time 
of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it may 
concern.'' Directory for Worship, ch. 11, \ 8. Such 
records are often the only legal proofs available of 
marriage and of legitimate inheritance. The minister 
should also give a certificate of the marriage when re- 
quested so to do. 



SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 49 

mutual love, now plighted, never know 
change, or doubt, or decay. Do thou bless 
them in each other, and crown their lives 
with thy loving-kindness and tender mercies. 
And do thou, we beseech thee, O Lord, by 
thy grace, enable them so to live together 
in this life that in the world to come they 
may have life everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



In the name of God, and of the laws of this 
commonwealth, I pronounce you to be hus- 
band and wife ; and whom God hath joined 
together let not man put asunder. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and 
the love of God ; and the communion of the 
Holy Ghost be with you for ever. Amen. 

4 



SELECTIONS 

OF 

SCRIPTURES TO BE READ AT 
FUNERALS. 



[Ministers should be very careful to avoid abusing 
God's word by associating the hopes of the gospel with 
the close of an obviously Christless life.] 

Man that is born of a woman is of few 
days and full of trouble. He cometh forth 
like a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also 
as a shadow and continueth not. Job xiv. 1, 2. 

As for man, his days are as grass : as a 
flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For 
the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and 
the place thereof shall know it no more. But 
the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to 
everlasting upon them that fear him ; and 
his righteousness unto children's children, to 
such as keep his covenant, and to those that 
remember his commandments to do them. 
Ps. ciii. 15-18. 

50 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



51 



Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place 
in all generations. Before the mountains 
were brought forth, or ever thou hadst 
formed the earth and the world, even from 
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 
Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, 
Return, ye children of men. For a thousand 
years in thy sight are but as yesterday when 
it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou 
carriest them away as with a flood : they are 
as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass 
which groweth up. In the morning it flou- 
risheth and groweth up ; in the evening it is 
cut down and withereth. For we are con- 
sumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are 
we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities 
before thee, our secret sins in the light of 
thy countenance. For all our days are 
passed away in thy wrath ; we spend our 
years as a tale that is told. Ps. xc. 1-9. 

We must all appear before the judgment- 
seat of Christ, that every one may receive 
the things done in his body, according to 
that he hath done, whether it be good or 
bad. 2 Cor. v. 10. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour 
is coming and now is, when the dead shall 



52 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



hear the voice of the Son of God, and they 
that hear shall live. For as the Father hath 
life in himself, so hath he given to the Son 
to have life in himself ; and hath given him 
authority to execute judgment also, because 
he is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this : 
for the hour is coming, in the which all that 
are in the graves shall hear his voice, and 
shall come forth ; they that have done good 
unto the resurrection of life, and they that 
have done evil unto the resurrection of dam- 
nation. John v. 25-29. 

Oh that they were wise, that they under- 
stood this, that they would consider their 
latter end ! Deut. xxxii. 29. 

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection 
and the life : he that believeth in me, though 
he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoso- 
ever liveth and believeth in me, shall never 
die. John xi. 25, 26. 



FUNEKAL SERVICES. 



53 



SELECTIONS 

RELATING TO THE DEATH OF 

YOUNG CHILDREN. 



A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation 
and bitter weeping ; Rachel weeping for her 
children refused to be comforted for her chil- 
dren, because they were not. Jer. xxxi. 15. 

Suffer the little children to come unto me, 
and forbid them not; for of such is the king- 
dom of God. Verily, I say unto you, Whoso- 
ever shall not recei ve the kingdom of God as a 
little child, he shall not enter therein. And 
he took them up in his arms, put his hands 
upon them and blessed them. Mark x. 14-16. 

Even so, it is not the will of your Father 
which is in heaven that one of these little 
ones should perish. Matt, xviii. 14. 

And the Lord struck the child . . . and it 
was very sick. David therefore besought 
God for the child; and David fasted and 
went in and lay all night upon the earth. 



54 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



And it came to pass on the seventh day that 
the child died. And the servants of David 
feared to tell him that the child was dead. 
But when David perceived that the child 
was dead ... he arose from the earth and 
washed, and anointed himself and changed 
his apparel and came into the house of the 
Lord and worshiped. . . . And he said, While 
the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept : 
for I said, Who can tell whether God will 
be gracious to me, that the child may live? 
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? 
Can I bring him back again ? I shall go to 
him, but he shall not return to me. 2 Sam. 
xii. 15-23. 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away ; blessed be the name of the Lord. 
Job i. 21. 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



55 



SELECTIONS 

RELATING TO SUDDEN DEATH OF 

PEBSONS IN MIDDLE LIFE. 



For what is your life? It is even a 
vapour that appeareth for a little time, and 
then vanisheth away. James iv. 14. 

Man knoweth not that which shall be, for 
who can tell him when it shall be ? There 
is no man that hath power over the spirit to 
retain the spirit ; neither hath he power in 
the day of death ; and there is no discharge 
in that war. Eccles. viii. 7, 8. 

He draweth also the mighty with his 
power ; he riseth up and no man is sure of 
life. . . . They are exalted for a little while, 
bat are gone and brought low ; they are 
taken out of the way, as all other, and cut 
off as the tops of the ears of corn. Job xxiv. 
22-24. 

One dieth in his full strength, being whol- 
ly at ease and quiet. And another dieth in 



56 



MANUAL OF FOE MS, 



the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth 
with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in 
the dust, and the worms shall cover them. 
Job xxi. 23-26. 

Take ye heed, watch and pray ; for ye 
know not when the time is, . . . for ye know 
not when the Master of the house cometh, at 
even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, 
or in the morning : lest coming suddenly, 
he find you sleeping. And what I say unto 
you, I say unto all, Watch. Mark xiii. 33-37. 



SELECTIONS 

APPLYING TO THE DEATH OF 

THE AGED, 



We spend our years as a tale that is told. 
The days of our years are threescore years 
and ten, and if by reason of strength they be 
fourscore years, yet is their strength labor 
and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly 
away. Ps. xc. 9, 10. 

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days 
of the years of my pilgrimage are an hun- 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



57 



dred and thirty years ; few and evil have the 
days of the years of my life been. Gen. 
xlvii. 9. 

The hoary head is a crown of glory if it 
be found in the way of righteousness. Prov. 
xvi. 31. 

The righteous shall flourish like the palm 
tree : he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 
Those that he planted in the house of the 
Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. 
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, 
they shall be fat and flourishing, to show 
that the Lord is upright. He is my rock ; 
and there is no unrighteousness in him. Ps. 
xcii. 12-15. 

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full 
age ; like as a shock of corn cometh in in 
his season. Job v. 26. 



58 



MANUAL OF FORMS. 



SELECTIONS 

RELATING TO THE DEATH OF BELIEVERS, 

AND THE 

GLOEY THAT FOLLOWS. 



And I heard a voice from heaven, saying 
unto me, Write : Blessed are the dead which 
die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea. saith 
the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
labors, and their works do follow them. Rev. 
xiv. 13. 

But I would not have you to be ignorant, 
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, 
that ye sorrow not, even as others which 
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus 
died and rose again, even so them also which 
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For 
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, 
that we which are alive and remain unto the 
coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them 
which are asleep. For the Lord himself 
shall descend from heaven with a shout, 
with the voice of the archangel and with the 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



59 



trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall 
rise first. Then we which are alive and re- 
main shall be caught up together with them 
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air ; 
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 
Wherefore comfort one another with these 
words. 1 Thess. iv. 13-18. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in 
the first resurrection : on such the second 
death hath no power, but they shall be 
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign 
with him a thousand years. Rev. xx. 6. 

There is one glory of the sun, and another 
glory of the moon, and another glory of the 
stars : for one star differeth from another star 
in glory. So also is the resurrection of the 
dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised 
in incorruption ; it is sown in dishonor, it is 
raised in glory ; it is sown in weakness, it is 
raised in power ; it is sown a natural body, it 
is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural 
body, and there is a spiritual body. And so 
it is written : The first man Adam was made 
a living soul, the last Adam was made a 
quickening spirit. . . . And as we have borne 
the image of the earthy, we shall also bear 
the image of the heavenly. . . . Behold, I 



60 



MANUAL OF FOEMS. 



shew you a mystery : we shall not all sleep, 
but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in 
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : 
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead 
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be 
changed. For this corruptible must put on 
incorruption, and this mortal must put on 
immortality. So when this corruptible shall 
have put on incorruption, and this mortal 
shall have put on immortality, then shall be 
brought to pass the saying that is written, 
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, 
where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy 
victory ? The sting of death is sin, and the 
strength of sin is the law ; but thanks be to 
God, which giveth us the victory, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ ! 1 Cor. xv. 41-57. 

And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth; 
for the first heaven and the first earth were 
passed away, and there was no more sea. 
And I John saw the holy city, new Jeru- 
salem, coming down from God out of heaven, 
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
And I heard a great voice out of heaven, 
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with 
men, and he will dwell with them, and they 
shall be his people, and God himself shall be 



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with them and be their God. And God 
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; 
and there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be 
any more pain ; for the former things are 
passed away. Rev. xxi. 1-4. 



SELECTIONS 

WHICH SET FORTH THE DESIGN 

AND GRACIOUS 

CONSOLATIONS OF AFFLICTION. 



Although affliction cometh not forth of 
the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of 
the ground ; yet man is born unto trouble as 
the sparks fly upward. Job v. 6, 7. 

Before I was afflicted I went astray : but 
now have I kept thy word. It is good for 
me that I have been afflicted ; that I might 
learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is 
better unto me than thousands of gold and 
silver. Ps. cxix. 67, 71, 72. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God cor- 
recteth : therefore despise not thou the chas- 



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MANUAL OF FORMS. 



tening of the Almighty. For he maketh 
sore and bindeth up: he woundeth and his 
hands make whole. He shall deliver thee 
in six troubles : yea, in seven there shall no 
evil touch thee. Job v. 17-19. 

For the Lord will not cast off for ever: but 
though he cause grief, yet will he have com- 
passion according to the multitude of his 
mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly 
nor grieve the children of men. Lam. iii. 
31-33. 

My son, despise not thou the chastening of 
the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked 
of him : for whom the Lord loveth he chas- 
ten eth, and scourgeth every son whom he 
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God 
dealeth with you as with sons ; for what son 
is he whom the Father chasteneth not ? But 
if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are 
partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. 
Furthermore, w r e have had fathers of our flesh 
which corrected us, and we gave them rever- 
ence ; shall we not much rather be in subjec- 
tion unto the Father of spirits and live ? For 
they verily for a few days chastened us after 
their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that 
w r e might be partakers of his holiness. Now 



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no chastening for the present seemeth to be 
joyous, but grievous : nevertheless afterward 
it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteous- 
ness unto them which are exercised thereby. 
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang 
down and the feeble knees. . . . Ye are come 
to Mount Sion, and unto the city of the liv- 
ing God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 
innumerable company of Angels, to the Gen- 
eral Assembly and Church of the First Born 
which are written in heaven, and to God the 
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men 
made perfect ; and to Jesus the Mediator of 
the New Covenant, and to the blood of 
sprinkling, that speaketh better things than 
that of Abel. Heb. xii. 5-12, 22-24. 

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in 
us, so our consolation also aboundeth by 
Christ. 2 Cor. i. 5. 

For our light affliction, which is but for 
a moment, worketh for us a far more ex- 
ceeding and eternal weight of glory ; while 
we look not at the things which are seen, but 
at the things which are not seen ; for the 
things which are seen are temporal ; but the 
things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 
iv. 17, 18. 



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MANUAL OF FORMS. 



And not only so, but we glory in tribu- 
lations also ; knowing that tribulation work- 
eth patience, and patience experience, and 
experience hope. Roin. v. 3, 4. 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall 
into diverse temptations ; knowing this, that 
the trying of your faith worketh patience. 
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : 
for when he is tried, he shall receive the 
crown of life, which the Lord hath promised 
to them that love him. James i. 2, 3, 12. 

That the trial of your faith, being much 
more precious than of gold that perisheth, 
though it be tried with fire, might be found 
unto praise and honor and glory at the ap- 
pearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. i. 7. 

Sing, O heavens ; and be joyful, O earth, 
and break forth into singing, O mountains : 
for the Lord hath comforted his people, and 
will have mercy upon his afflicted. Isa. 
xlix. 13. 

For a small moment have I forsaken thee, 
but with great mercies will I gather thee. 
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for 
a moment; but with everlasting kindness 
will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord 
thy Eedeemer. Isa. liv. 7, 8. 



